NHL Player News

Kastelic scored a shorthanded goal on three shots, added two hits and blocked two shots in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Kraken.

Kastelic has scored in back-to-back contests after going 15 games without a goal. The 26-year-old now has career highs in goals (eight) and points (15) through 48 appearances this season. He's added plenty of grit in a bottom-six role, logging 126 hits, 99 PIM and 43 blocked shots. There's room for him to contribute in deep fantasy formats.

Khusnutdinov scored a goal on two shots in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Kraken.

Khusnutdinov's five-point burst last Saturday got him some attention, but he's been pretty good lately overall. In the last month, he's logged 13 points, 17 shots on net and a plus-8 rating over 15 contests. The 23-year-old is currently seeing top-line minutes at even strength, though the lack of a power-play spot will still limit his potential. He's at 10 goals, 21 points, 46 shots on net, 21 hits, 20 blocked shots and a plus-5 rating over 43 appearances.

Colton (upper body) will be in the lineup versus the Predators on Friday, Conor McGahey of Altitude TV reports.

Colton was in doubt for Friday's clash but seems to be good to go after shaking off his upper-body issue. The 29-year-old forward might be the veteran piece of the Avs' fourth line alongside Ivan Ivan and Zakhar Bardakov. Without a role further up the depth chart, Colton is unlikely to offer more than mid-range fantasy value at best.

Coyle scored a power-play goal on eight shots and added two PIM in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Canucks.

Coyle opened the scoring at 17:25 of the first period, and the Blue Jackets' lead was never threatened. The 33-year-old has four goals, including two on the power play, and one assist over his last three outings, and he's added 18 shots in that span. For the season, the center is up to 10 goals, 30 points (five on the power play), 79 shots on net, 64 hits, 29 blocked shots and a minus-1 rating. He's playing a bigger game than his third-line role would suggest, giving him a chance to exceed the 50-point mark for the third time in his career.

Schwindt (arm) will return to action for Friday's game against the Hurricanes, Panthers TV Rinkside Reporter Katie Engleson reports.

Schwindt has been back at practice for just over two weeks, and he's officially been cleared to return to game action for the first time since mid-November. Over 10 appearances prior to his absence, he recorded two goals, nine hits and six blocked shots while averaging 8:38 of ice time.

Vilardi picked up a goal and an assist, both on the power play, in Thursday's 6-2 win over the Wild.

After having a hand in a Jonathan Toews tally late in the first period, Vilardi lit the lamp himself midway through the second. Vilardi has gotten onto the scoresheet in four straight games, and in 11 contests since Christmas the 26-year-old winger has delivered three goals and 12 points as he marches towards a career-best campaign.

Toews scored a power-play goal and added an even-strength assist in Thursday's 6-2 win over the Wild.

The veteran center opened the scoring late in the first period, banging home the rebound on a Mark Scheifele shot. Toews has found a groove since Christmas, finding the back of the net in four straight games and collecting four goals and nine points in the last 11 contests, impressive numbers considering he had just three goals and nine points through his first 35 games with Winnipeg.

Scheifele scored an even-strength goal and added three assists, two on the power play, in Thursday's 6-2 win over the Wild.

Two of the helpers came in the first period, sparking the Jets to a 3-0 lead through the first 20 minutes. Scheifele has delivered four multi-point performance in the last five games, and over the last 12 contests he's racked up six goals and 17 points -- a surge that has put the 32-year-old center on track for his first career 100-point campaign.

Ivan was recalled from AHL Colorado on Friday.

The Avalanche are hurting up front as Ross Colton missed practice Thursday with an upper-body injury, leaving the team with 10 healthy forwards, necessitating the recall of Ivan. The 23-year-old Ivan has one assist in five NHL games this season and will likely see fourth-line minutes Friday versus Nashville.

Johnson scored an even-strength goal and added a power-play assist in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Canucks.

The 23-year-old winger had managed just one point, a goal, over the prior 11 games, but Johnson made an impact Thursday by feeding Zach Werenski in the second period for Columbus' third goal before wrapping up the scoring himself midway through the third. Johnson's power-play point was his first of the season, and after a rough beginning to the campaign under former coach Dean Evason, the fifth overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft seems to be getting more opportunities under Rick Bowness, skating on the top PP unit in each of the last two games.